Mom says getting a degree is worth stress, debt
February 2, 2012
When 30-year-old Amy McGregor decided to go to school to get a college degree, she admits that she had no idea what she wanted to study or what she wanted to do once she graduated.
In fact, she told the Montana Kaimin newspaper that money was tight so she enrolled at the University of Montana to take advantage of the student loan money she could get.
"We needed a boost in our income, but I didn't want to work full time ¬- I didn't want to spend time away from my baby," McGregor told the newspaper. "A student loan for going to school gave me that. When I got my student loans, I could pay my bills. I started school for the income and I didn't take it seriously."
Now, with her graduation just months away, the mother of three says that going to college has provided much more than a way to help her family make ends meet.
"Although I started out not realizing the value of a college education, I certainly have had a grasp on that for a while," she said. "College has not only enhanced my career opportunities, but also my self-esteem and my ability to educate my children and my community."
When she graduates with a degree in social work she knows that the stress she's dealt with and the nearly $60,000 in debt she's accrued will be worth it.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment opportunities for social workers are expected to grow faster than average until 2018, with job prospects remaining favorable through this time period.
The fact that she will have a bachelor's degree will help her qualify for many different social work jobs and ensure she earns more money in the future.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2009, the average salary for adults ages 25 to 34 with a bachelor's degree was $45,000, while those with a high school diploma or other equivalent degree earned an average of $30,000 per year.
McGregor says that her loans not only made it possible for her to get a degree, but they also helped pay for rent, food, gas and other necessities throughout the time she's been in school.
The good news for other moms who want to go to college is that there are various grants for parents, scholarships for mothers and other financial aid options available - many of which don't need to be repaid after graduation.
In addition, University of Montana's financial aid director, Kent McGowan says that the financial aid system is built to help non-traditional students and that the type of assistance they receive will depend on many factors.
"If a single parent comes in and asks for more assistance, we are going to do all we can to assist them," he told the news provider.
